'March for Life' Marks 31 Years of Legalized Infanticide

'March for Life' Marks 31 Years of Legalized Infanticide

Pro-lifers from across the country descending on Washington, DC, Thursday to mark the 31st anniversary of a Supreme Court ruling that has resulted in the deaths of more than 44 million innocent babies.

The "March for Life" drew thousands of pro-life advocates to the Washington Monument to hear speeches from activists, clergy, and members of Congress. The marchers then proceeded to the Supreme Court building where, 31 years ago, the high court opened the door in its ruling in Roe v. Wade for abortion to be legal and available on demand in the United States.

At the Supreme Court, the pro-life gathering heard from two actresses who were speaking on behalf of "Operation Outcry: Silent No More" -- a group representing women who feel remorse over their past abortions. Melba Moore and Jennifer O'Neill warned women about the long-term consequences of abortion, an aspect of the three-decades-old ruling that abortion proponents are reluctant to acknowledge.

In an interview with Associated Press, Moore said she had "many abortions" -- more than she wants to count -- and could not escape the guilt until she gave her life to God. But Moore says she hopes to be united with her unborn children in heaven someday. She advises other women who are haunted by their abortions to "give your life back to God on a daily basis so that as it continues to heal and open up, you'll look forward to the day that you'll see and be with your children."

Several pro-life lawmakers spoke to the marchers, including Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas and Representatives Chris Smith of New Jersey, Todd Aiken of Missouri, and Steve Chabot of Ohio.

In contrast, pro-abortion lawmakers took advantage of the dark anniversary to introduce legislation they say would protect women's "civil liberties." Sponsors and backers of the Freedom of Choice Act include California Senator Barbara Boxer, Congressman Jarrold Nadler of New York, and a common duo of pro-abortion groups: Planned Parenthood of America and NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Majority of Women Oppose Abortion

Focus on the Family, a Christian ministry that has long fought to protect the lives of the unborn, is saying that abortion advocates, including groups such as Planned Parenthood and NARAL, do not represent the majority of American women.

In a printed statement, Carrie Gordon Earll -- senior policy analyst for bioethics at Focus -- explains that two recent surveys show clearly that pro-abortion groups are "out of touch" with American women. One poll, she says, found that 68% of women favor more restrictions on abortion and 51% favor banning abortions altogether or allowing it only in rare cases. The other poll revealed that nearly 87% of women think non-profit women's health centers should provide pregnant women with access to ultrasound technology.

These survey results, Earll says, show that pro-abortion groups in the U.S. that claim to speak for women do not represent mainstream thought.

"Pro-abortion groups like NARAL, the National Organization for Women, and Planned Parenthood oppose even the most moderate limits on abortion and decry the use of ultrasound as a 'weapon' in abortion counseling," she says. "Pro-abortion groups are moving in the opposite direction of the constituency they claim to represent."

In reference to groups like Operation Outcry, the bioethics analyst says women are beginning to realize the effect abortion can have on them. "The growing support for the pro-life position among U.S. women may also be attributed, in part, to the willingness of more women to speak out about how abortion has impacted their lives," she says.

According to Earll, many women are discovering too late that abortion is a choice that lasts a lifetime. "Women know intuitively that it's unnatural to kill their children," Earll says. "Our challenge is to help them see that it's also unnecessary."